Panel OKs terror data sharing bill

The House Judiciary Committee this morning approved by voice vote a bill that would let the FBI and the CIA share classified information about terrorist threats with state and local police.

The Bush Administration supports the bipartisan bill, which is headed for the floor of the House.

During today's markup session, the committee adopted an amendment by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) that would allow state and local police agencies to receive information about terrorism generated from federal grand jury testimony or wiretaps.

The bill, known as the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act, HR 4598, would allow classified information to be given to state and local first responders after data about sources and methods of intelligence collection were removed. The information would be issued via law enforcement telecommunications systems.